The Institute of Community and Public Health (ICPH) at Birzeit University (BZU), in collaboration with the Center for Research on Population and Health (CRPH) of the Faculty of Health Sciences (FHS) at the American University of Beirut (AUB), is pleased to invite submissions of abstracts for presentation at the upcoming LPHA Fifth Annual Conference “Health of Palestinians,” which will be held on March 17-18, 2014.

The venue of the conference will be announced in due course.

The LPHA comprises a collaboration of Palestinian, regional and international researchers, committed to the highest scientific standards in describing, analyzing and evaluating the health and health care of Palestinians, in order to contribute to the international scientific literature and to develop local evidence-based policy and practices. Activities include: developing scientific methods that are culture-specific; increasing capacity for research; encouraging advocacy based on science; and promoting academic collaboration within the occupied Palestinian Territory, across the region, and the globe.

For the LPHA’s Fifth Annual Conference, a broad range of topics related to health and determinants of health of Palestinians living inside and outside the occupied Palestinian territory are welcome. Studies may focus on any issue relevant to Palestinian health, such as, but not limited to communicable and non-communicable diseases, nutrition, water and sanitation, health and human security, equity and health, the political and social determinants of health, health and human rights, demography and population, occupational health, mental health, refugee and internally displaced people and health, women’s health, child health and protection, disability and health, health services and access to health services, health system and health insurance, surveys of health care and public health practice, evaluations of clinical and public health practices, research syntheses relevant to Palestinian health, and professional education, training and development, among other topics.

Abstracts should be between 250 and 300 words in length, and written in English. The expectation is that structured abstracts will be appropriate for most of the summaries of research submitted. These should include a. Background, b. Methods, c. Findings, and d. Interpretation.

Abstracts should be sent to the address below no later than November 29, 2013. They will be peer reviewed by an expert committee composed of Palestinian, regional and international scientists. Any abstract that relates to a study for which data are currently unavailable but expected to be available for presentation at the conference should be accompanied by a copy of the study protocol.
Participants will be informed in early January 2013 whether their submission has been successful in being selected for presentation at the conference, either as oral presentations, or as posters. Selected abstracts will be collated and distributed by email to conference attendees.

Authors of selected abstracts should submit slides if appropriate to support a 20 minute presentation, or the full text for posters, by email, no later than February 28, 2013. Deadlines will be strictly adhered to.

To submit abstracts and presentations, or for further information, please contact:
LPHA Coordination Team at: LPHAcoordination@gmail.com